He crouched beside the chair.
His face was close to mine again, but the confidence was gone.
“I was doing my job,” he whispered.
“No,” I said quietly.
“You were proving a point.”
The key scraped against the lock twice before he found the opening.
The cuff released.
I brought my hand forward.
A red mark circled my wrist, but the skin was not broken.
I stood slowly and rubbed feeling back into my fingers.
Frank rose with me.
He expected anger.
Perhaps he expected me to use my rank the way he used his badge—to frighten him, insult him, and make everyone watch.
I picked up the secure phone instead.
“This is Voss,” I said.
“I’m safe.
Resume the briefing through the alternate line.
I’ll join from the vehicle.”
The caller confirmed.
I ended the connection.
Frank stared at the phone.
“What exactly are you?” he asked.
It was the first honest question he had asked me in years.
“I’m a major general in the United States Army.”
Kyle’s mouth opened.
My mother closed her eyes.
Frank shook his head.
“No.
That’s not possible.”
The lead officer took a slim credential case from inside her coat.
She opened it just long enough for Frank to see.
The details meant nothing to him, but the seal and her photograph were enough.
“We were already en route to collect General Voss,” she said.
“Your interference changed the nature of our arrival.”
Frank looked toward the driveway, where the five vehicles remained positioned around his patrol car.
“All of this for her?”
The contempt in his voice returned for half a second.
The lead officer noticed.
“All of this because she was conducting a restricted briefing, because the line transmitted signs of physical interference, and because an armed law-enforcement officer identified himself while unlawfully restraining her.”
“I had probable cause.”
“For what offense?”
“Impersonation.”
“Based on what evidence?”
Frank pointed at me.
“She lied about her career for years.”
I almost laughed.
“I never lied,” I said.
“You interrupted every answer.”
My mother lowered her hand from her mouth.
Frank turned to her.
“You knew?”
She looked at him for a long moment.
“I knew she had been promoted.”
“To general?”
“She tried to tell us at Christmas.”
The memory returned with painful clarity.
